Puma air compressor

[keith427]

I am looking at a new air compressor. The one I am looking at is at Northern tool. It is a Puma Model #PK6560VS. I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with these. They seem to have good reviews online but here I can get real world information.
I can't figure out how to make the link that works.

 

[keith427]

[/url]https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200455340_200455340

 

[Steve@Advance]

It's probably a decent compressor for home shop use.

At least it is cast iron, that will give it some life expectancy.

They are pushing the truth on the horsepower though. A motor that pulls 17 amps is a 3 HP, not 4 1/2.
Compressor

 

[jeffcat]

The other thing is NEVER buy an oil less unit. Most all of these if
you change the oil once a year, drain the tank regularly, and clean
the air filters, you should be fine. Don't skimp on the wiring. If
the unit can be set up to run on 220 volts, Do it! Machine will work
so much better. Just some good tips.

 

[Oregon Tractor Jack]

I have a Puma similar to the one pictured. It works okay for the home shop. I use mine strictly for my paint both. It it will keep up with my paint gun just fine. It would not keep up with any real air hogs like a blast cabinet. The only compliant that I have is the drain bung is 1/8" pipe and it is hard to get too. I added a short nipple, elbow and a longer nipple and moved the valve out two where I could get to it better. I had another compressor that had an 1/8" bung and it would not drain real well. It finally plugged up and I scrapped it. The replacement compressor has a 1/2" NPT bung so it really will drain.

OTJ

 

[GlenIdaho]

I have a Puma similar to the one you are looking at. I've used it for painting, air tools and a little sand blasting. It has to work hard for sand blasting. No problems with it except the pressure switch failed. Cheap item and easy to replace. Mine is not very quiet so I built its own shed. Cast iron pump is the only way to go. I've had mine for about 8 years and still going strong.

 

[OlHorsesArse]

Well' fwiw Im not sure about this units performance "yet" as I just purchased my new PK-6560V (no S on end here) but its 5hp motor has an FLA of 24 amp which is what I was told to go by not HP rating.
It just arrived so Ive not hooked it up, hope I get time this weekend?
Puma manual states it needs 60 amp breaker to cover inrush amps which is extreme imo but wth do I know vs decades of Puma's knowledge?
After looking online its pretty split, some say run it on a 40 amp with others saying 30 amps fine but clearly FLA differ'd on this model through the yrs its been made. Actually FLA is rarely mentioned in posts but I've seen 14,15 a lot which is what I expected yet mines 24? Different motor brands/suppliers I guess?
I have a Square-D Homeline panel fwiw. (There is no slow breaker option for the Homeline as some advise to use on compressors).
But' 30-60 amps, overall I found some really sound advice on this subject? Not!..lol
Hep me Hep me!
Thanks all!

 

[OlHorsesArse]

Update:
Well I forgot I posted here months back, running fine on 10g & a 40amp breaker & this Puma is a great lil unit.
Builds air really fast so Im very satisfied with this compressor. I had an Eagle for about 20 yrs and I liked it a lot. Eagles are very reliable but my motor finally failed on it so Its going to my boy after repaired. I set out to buy another Eagle but this was on sale & the Eagle I was looking at was more & had a V-Twin pump like my old one, not 3 cylinder like the Puma. The 3rd cylinder sure makes a difference. But of course my motor may have been tired for a good while before it failed? Ive been happy with this Puma.

☆ I bolted it down on foam isolators that certainly helps out with any compressor noise fwiw. I'll do that from now on!

 

[Oregon Tractor Jack]

I have a Puma very similar to that for my paint booth. It works great for that but is pretty noisy. In my main shop I have a Quincy with a true five horse motor. It handles sand blasting booth just fine and is pretty quiet. The down side is the cost difference. The Quincy as almost twice price of a Puma. I wore a out compressor that was similar to the Puma because I used it more than I thought I would. Think hard on what you want to use if for and what future uses that might come up. Buying right the first time is cheaper in the long run.

OTJ